Mr. Holland's Opus (1995)
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74% of critics liked it
(27 reviews) -
79% of users liked it
(54,019 ratings)
A teacher belatedly discovers just how important his job really is in this emotional drama. Glenn Holland (Richard Dreyfuss) is a man with a deep love of music and a desire to write at least one piece of lasting significance. However, playing piano in cocktail lounges while he works on his own… More A teacher belatedly discovers just how important his job really is in this emotional drama. Glenn Holland (Richard Dreyfuss) is a man with a deep love of music and a desire to write at least one piece of lasting significance. However, playing piano in cocktail lounges while he works on his own compositions doesn't pay the bills, so in 1965 he reluctantly accepts a job as a high school music teacher. Over the next 30 years, Holland is able to teach a great deal about both music and life to thousands of kids who pass through the various classes he leads and school bands he directs; however, he finds it easier to reach his students than his son Cole (played, as he grows older, by Nicholas John Renner, Joseph Anderson, and Anthony Natale), who is deaf, which drives a wedge between Glenn and his wife Iris (Glenne Headly). Richard Dreyfuss earned an Academy Award nomination as Best Actor for Mr. Holland's Opus; the cast also includes Olympia Dukakis, William H. Macy, and Jay Thomas. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Directed By
- Stephen Herek
- Genres
- Drama
- In Theaters
- Dec 29, 1995 Wide
Critic Reviews
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Emanuel Levy, Variety
This idealized tribute to a charismatic teacher who devotes himself to music appreciation has the same old-fashioned texture and sticky sentimentality as Goodbye Mr. Chips (of 1939), but Dreyfuss gives an effective, surprisingly restrained performance
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Rob Thomas, Capital Times (Madison, WI)
Holland may have been a failed composer, but he's a master at playing the heartstrings.
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Chuck O'Leary, Fantastica Daily
A touching, uplifting and life-affirming winner that makes it hard to avoid leaving the theater teary-eyed, with a lump in your throat.
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Michael Dequina, TheMovieReport.com
Who knew the director of Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead was capable of making a profoundly moving drama?
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Michael A. Smith, Nolan's Pop Culture Review
One of Dreyfuss' best performances EVER.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Richard Dreyfuss
as Glenn Holland
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Glenne Headly
as Iris Holland
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Jay Thomas
as Bill Meister
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Olympia Dukakis
as Principal Jacobs
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William H. Macy
as Vice Principal Wolters
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Alicia Witt
as Gertrude Lang
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Joanna Gleason
as Adult Gertrude
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Terrence Howard
as Louis Russ
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Jean Louisa Kelly
as Rowena Morgan
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Damon Whitaker
as Bobby Tidd
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Joseph Anderson
as Cole at 15
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Eric Michael Cole
as Boy 2
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Anthony Natale
as Cole at 28
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Nicholas John Renner
as Cole at 6
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Mark Daniels
as Ralph
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Zoe McLellan
as Girl
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Donnie Burns
as City Official
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Spencer Riviera
as Mr Hosta
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Jacob Adams
as Football Player
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Brent Archie
as Football Player
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Kathryn Arnett
as Ms Swedlin
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Pal Bernard
as Auditioner
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Sean Bevington
as Mr McMartin
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Dennis Biasi
as Adult Stadler
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Alexandra Boyd
as Sarah Olmstead
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John Boyer
as Billy Faraday
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Kevin Calaba
as Football Player
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Larry Joe Campbell
as Boy
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Jordan Carlton
as Auditioner
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Kaili Carlton
as Ms Wayne
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Kelly M. Casey
as Deaf School Teacher
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David Clegg
as Superintendent
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Freeman O. Corbin
as Mr Sullivan
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Benjamin J. Dixon
as Mr Mims
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Conan Doherty
as Toby Klein
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Alex Dudgeon
as Auditioner
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Tara Eng
as Auditioner
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Moira Feeney
as Ms Godfrey
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Adam Fitzhugh
as Mr McKenzie
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Patrick Fong
as Study Hall Student
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Jay Frank
as Auditioner
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Dieffyd Gilman Frederick
as Auditioner
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Ashley Hamrick
as Miss Reeves
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Linda Williams Janke
as Secretary
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Beth Maitland
as Deaf School Principal
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Chris Math
as Football Player
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Michael Mendelson
as Chaplain
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Aurora J. Miller
as Auditioner
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Joshua Minnick
as Mr Shapiro
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Kasey Nelson
as Girl
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Mary Kay O'Mealy
as Auditioner
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Tomiko Peirano
as Girl
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John Henry Redwood
as Mr Russ
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Ted Roisum
as Dr Sorenson
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Janine Shouse
as Miss Schumaker
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Stacey Siegel
as Diner Waitress
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Nicholas Sirianni
as Football Player
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Keith Swift
as Football Player
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Daniel J. Vhay
as Mr Malone
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Rachel Wooley
as Auditioner
